Energy Labelling Directive

What is it?

The Energy Labelling Directive (2010/30/EU) establishes a framework for labelling and consumer information regarding energy consumption. Initially established for household appliances, the scope of the Directive has been extended to energy-related products, which are likely to have a direct or indirect impact on the consumption of energy and potentially of other resources during use.

The Energy Labelling Directive is a framework directive that mandates the Commission to propose, by means of delegated acts, details relating to information to be provided on the label and in the fiche for each type of product. Products are ranked, according to their energy consumption, on an A to G scale with colours from dark green to red. The implementation of the Energy Labelling Directive is linked to the Eco Design Directive (2009/125/EC): requirements and benchmarks defined for individual product group under the Eco design Directive are used as references for setting the energy labelling classes. The delegated acts under consideration are discussed in the Ecodesign Consultation Forum.

Why is it important?

As suppliers of goods and services to all sectors of the economy and to private consumers, Orgalime industries provide innovative and ever more energy and resource efficient products. It is therefore essential to spread information on the performance on the level of performance through different forms, including labelling, as this helps in raising the awareness of consumers on their individual energy consumption.

Together with other policy instruments, such as the Eco design Directive and the EU Eco Label Regulation, the Energy Labelling Directive forms part the broader the EU sustainable consumption and production policy. The primary objective of the Energy label is to help consumers to make better choices, thus saving energy and money, and to provide incentives for the industry to develop and invest in energy efficient product design. In addition, the Energy label has demonstrated that it can provide information to consumers on other parameters than energy consumption, such as water consumption, noise or fitness for purpose of the product.

The Directive is subject to a review currently taking place in 2016.

Our viewpoint

Orgalime industries fully support the Energy label that has already been successful in providing information to consumers on energy consumption and other parameters. For its implementation, we aim to:

Ensure a coherent and consistent approach to all product-related environmental policy initiatives.

Secure clear and unambiguous scope of delegated act, which should be aligned with the Eco design implementing measures.

Secure realistic timelines allowing industry to adapt to the necessary changes to products.

Ensure that it is simple, concise, and easy to understand for the consumer.

Environmental product information can take different forms, including the Energy label. It is one of the available tools we have today. It is certainly relevant, but it may not always be the preferred option: the use of a label, in our view, is appropriate for consumer products, but it may not be an adequate tool for professional equipment.

How we’ve been engaged

Orgalime industries have actively contributed to all legislative and preparatory work for the implementation of the Energy Labelling Directive. Orgalime is a member of the Ecodesign Consultation Forum set up to discuss Eco design, but also energy labelling implementation issues.

Furthermore, Orgalime sets up overview tables indicating the state of play of ongoing implementation of the Energy Labelling Directive, which are updated on a regular basis.